This week has been all about preparing for the NBA season and the upcoming holidays. I wrapped up my required writing for the rest of this month (which I hope to devote to my dissertation) before the regular season tips off. Please visit my Rants for my latest, and here are my most recent articles since I last shared my posts:

Plus, I started submitting workout videos to the Pretty Fit iPhone app. When I Skyped with the app creator the other day, we discussed my collaboration on her blog, so I’m excited about potentially sharing more fitness tips! Here are my original Pretty Fit pic and my new one:

Now that my blog for Rant Sportsis in full swing, I seriously must get on the ball with my dissertation. As a Ph.D. candidate who completed my comprehensive exams and doctoral coursework last year, I’m ABD (All But Dissertation). If any of you who read this have achieved an ultimate dream like finishing your terminal degree, your suggestions on time management for me to become Doctor would be greatly appreciated.

When I taught at South Texas College, I asked two of my colleagues for the keys to them unlocking their goal of graduating with their doctorate. Theirs were:

Perseverance ~ Dr. Rosalinda Cantú

Endurance ~ Dr. Roksana Alavi

Dr. Cantú was my former boss for our Communication Arts department, and Dr. Alavi was my next-door office neighbor who also used her “endurance” when she happened to run one of the same races with me, the Fiesta 5K, back in 2009. Even though we’ve gone our separate ways since then, these two mentors’ messages still resonate in my mind as I muster up my focus.

Another South Texas colleague, who I would fondly call “Thaddeus,” as he was named after St. Jude and with whom I was connected because he was also in his 20s when he went through grad school for his doctoral program, also gave me these two-cents that are worth abundantly more:

We all have our own crosses to bear ~ Dr. George Thaddeus Díaz

My Pinoy friend, Sammy Antonio, who is from my father’s province and now lives in the RGV after teaching at Pangasinan State University, provided me with this advice, as his wife is also pursuing her Ph.D.:

As I get into the groove with my Rant Sportsblog, I branched out my reports beyond my Dallas Mavericks into football – both college and the NFL – from the games I attended this past weekend. First, I’ll share my pre-preseason* pieces followed by last weekend’s adventure** articles then the two freshly pressed posts*** from today that cover the preseason so far!

Welcome/Mabuhay/¡Biénvenidos! I am a USAF brat who was born in Germany and grew up State-side while celebrating my Catholic and Filipino heritage. ☼Sunny☼ DISPOsition Elaine’s Eye Candy/DISPhotos ~ I love GOD & His creations, so I take photos @ any given opportunity. Elaine DISPOrts ~ I am passionate about sports, which is my research focus on my ... Continue reading →